Teen Council Deepens the Conversation on Consent

At The DOVE Project, we believe that conversations about consent are essential to building safe and respectful communities. That’s why our Teen Council has created a new, in-depth lesson focused entirely on Consent—and we were thrilled to teach it for the first time to 8th graders at The Harbor School!

Consent is a key part of many of our lessons, especially in Healthy Relationships, but The Harbor School asked us to dedicate an entire session just to this topic. We were happy to take on the challenge and deepen the discussion.

Consent is FRIES 🍟

To help students better understand consent, we introduced the FRIES model:

• Freely given 

• Reversible 

• Informed 

• Enthusiastic 

• Specific

Using role play and real-life scenarios, students explored what ongoing consent looks like and how to recognize coercion, pressure, and manipulation. They asked great questions and engaged in open, thoughtful discussions—proving that young people are eager to learn about these important topics.

Why This Matters

Consent isn’t just about romantic relationships—it applies to friendships, family dynamics, digital interactions, and everyday boundaries. By teaching consent in a way that is clear, relatable, and interactive, we empower young people to respect themselves and others.

Want to learn more about Teen Council? https://www.vashondoveproject.org/vashon-teen-council